Summary; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Ah, thank you Kana090 for your lovely PM and encouragement! It's the only reason I'm updating - I found it on my memory disk and am using my mom's comp for it. Ah well. Now, Ray can fly in the comic, so I had him be able to, Amara I'm using her comic appearence instead of Evo, and Piotr is like he is from the movies. This takes place the winter before X3, since I think that judging from scenery shots all the fighting where Xavier dies is in spring. If not, ah well - either spring or fall, but by all the color and flowers I thought spring.

I think that's it. Next chapter skips through a lot, and this one is really just introducing and working the plot out. Enjoy!

Please review. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.


The two continued walking in silence for some time until they reached a shaded lane. The sun was still in the sky, providing some light, but the streetlights had automatically come on anyway, and there weren't many people down the lane.

"I think this is the road that leads to the Institute," Deitra told her companion, who nodded, appearing a little testy. "What's the matter?" she asked, and he grunted.

"Nothing."

She looked around nervously, but was unable to hear or sense anything, and shrugged.

"All right, if you say so," she said, and took several steps forward before she realized Ray wasn't following. "Could you tell me what's wrong, huh?" she asked impatiently, and gasped when he suddenly dived towards her, pulling them both to the ground and rolling into the bushes.

"Make cover!" he ordered. Taken by surprise, she immediately did so, and the bushes grew over them thickly in a matter of seconds.

"Who is it?" she whispered, but he shook his head.

"I dunno – the Church, maybe," he replied, just as quietly. "But someone's out there."

"What, you've got a sixth sense now?"

"I can just tell," he said tersely, and she fell silent, watching him nervously. The mutant's eyes were narrowed and he remained crouched next to her, looking like he was ready to spring at any second.

"So, what do we do?" she asked. "We need to get to the Institute. And I hate running around in the dark."

"I gotta kill the GPS, sorry," he told her, before reaching and grabbing the device. She watched, fascinated, as a blue glow and sparks emitted from the small thing as he gripped it, absorbing the electricity inside it. She had never seen any other mutant, let alone a usage of powers, and it somehow comforted her.

"It's okay," she grinned, taking the dead device and tucking it away again. "What's the plan?" she prodded, and he glanced towards the streetlights.

"I'm gonna blow 'em – and we'll see what they do," he decided, and she nodded. "Get ready…" he warned her, and seconds later shot a burst of electricity towards the nearest streetlight. The explosion caused a chain-reaction, and the lane was shortly as dark as the rest of the area.

"What the hell?" a voice cried out, and another yelped.

"There's another!"

"Let's go!" Ray ordered, pulling Deitra to her feet and starting to run down the lane. She pumped her legs to keep up with him, and glanced behind to see several people rushed after them, weapons aloft.

"Wait!" she panted, turning around and using the shrubbery to create a barrier that would most definitely deter their pursuers.

"Nice," he whistled, and then groaned. "They've got us surrounded anyway."

"Now what?" she demanded, back-to-back with the young man.

"I'm gonna fly," he told her. "Just don't move," he added, shifting and grasping her underneath her shoulders. She yelped when they suddenly shot into the air, and closed her eyes tightly to avoid seeing the Church members below. "You okay?" he checked, dodging a bullet.

"Fine," she managed. "How far you can do this?"

"It's more like long jumping – and I don't usually have passengers," he admitted, setting his teeth. "I can do a few more miles, but that should be enough distance, especially in the dark."

"Good," she agreed, her legs dangling beneath her and making her feel as if she were in a roller coaster. Ray was horizontal, and she was hanging vertically from his grip. Reaching up, she grasped his shoulder for extra support, not wanting in the least to be dropped.


"Phew," Ray sighed, dropping Deitra gently onto her feet and landing beside her. The sun was now gone, and the Institute's gates were in view. "Finally."

"You okay?" she asked, and he shot her a tired grin.

"Just need to recharge, is all," he joked, but rolled his shoulders with another sigh. "Actually, I'm beat," he admitted with a small laugh, and she grinned back.

"We're almost there," she said, as they began jogging, not wanting to take the chance their attackers had followed them in the dark. "I'm nervous," she said suddenly, and he glanced at her before shrugging.

"Yeah, me too."

"Do you think they'll let us in?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"I dunno – I hope so, or else I dunno where else to do," he told her. "Let's just hope they do."

"Yeah," Deitra nodded, glad Ray was still carrying her suitcase. The mutants moved fast, and they soon reached the gates, not realizing they had someone following them until it was too late.

"Shit!" Ray yelped, when someone lunged at them. They dived apart, and the man rose to his feet, a long club-like object in his hands. "What the hell, man?" the young man complained, but was met with a glare.

"You freaks aren't getting in there," he began, but was cut off when vines wrapped themselves around his mouth and legs, dropping him to the ground.

"I like that trick," Ray commented, and she grinned.

"Thanks. I guess you're not able to short-circuit it, huh?" she sighed, looking at the security system to unlock the gates.

"Nope, but I think I can get us over it," he told her, grabbing her and jumping over. Sure enough, they landed safely on the other side, and took off towards the building without looking behind them, though Deitra knew the man was still tied up. Both panting, they staggered up the steps and fell into the doors, Ray pounding loudly on them while Deitra propped her hands on her knees. After a few moments, he banged again, quickly losing his temper.

"Maybe they're asleep?" she suggested.

"It's not that goddamn late!" he muttered. "Stupid bastards are trying to get us killed!" He probably would have continued, except a woman with white hair answered the door, looking surprised to see the two young people outside the doors.

"Hello. Is something wrong?" she asked calmly, and was met with a glare from Ray.

"Damn straight," he growled. "We got a Church member after us – you gonna let us in, or make us go away? 'Cause I'd like to know right now."

"Ray!" Deitra objected, but the woman nodded solemnly.

"Come in, immediately," she ordered, stepping aside as they stumbled into the mansion. "You both look quite the mess," she observed, and they were unable to do anything other than collapse on the floor, trying to catch their breath. "My name is Ororo Munroe," she began, standing over them. "I am one of the Institute's teachers. As soon as you catch your breath, I would like to know who you two are."

"Deitra…Burton," the girl gasped, and gestured to Ray. "Ray Crisp. We're both...mutants."

"I assumed that much," the woman said dryly, hands on her hips. "Why are you here?"

"We told you!" Ray said sharply, and Deitra nodded.

"We met on the way here," she explained, getting back to her feet now that she could breath normally. "Church of Humanity members in my town found out I was a mutant and I left so my mother wouldn't be attacked. They followed me, and almost got us at the gate."

"They will not dare come into our property," Ororo said primly, and something in her tone suggested they had already tried. "Now, you two are here to stay, I assume?"

They both nodded, Ray a bit reluctantly, and she observed them for a long moment before nodding slowly.

"I will bring you to the Professor. Come this way," she ordered, turning her back and beginning to stride down a hallway. Glancing at each other, the two shrugged and managed to follow her, both exhausted and hungry. As they passed rooms, they saw mutants of all ages and races, and Deitra would have paused to watch some of them use their powers except that Ray took her elbow and dragged her after him determinedly.

"You're not gonna leave me on my own after putting me through that," he muttered, and she grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Just come on," he ordered, tugging her some more to catch up to Ororo. They stopped when she reached a door, and turned to look at the pair.

"Wait here a moment," she said, stepping into the office.

"I wonder if they'll keep us?" Ray wondered, leaning against a wall with a sigh.

"If not, we're screwed," Deitra said, and he nodded in agreement. As they waited, several people passed them – a tall young man with a few other younger mutants, who glanced at them curiously before he herded them on, nodding a 'hello' to the two as they passed.

"I wonder what he is," the mutant wondered, and she shrugged.

"I'm sure we'll find out eventually – I hope," she added, and he grunted. They stood outside the door for a few minutes before the woman came back out, gesturing them inside.

"The Professor will see you," she told them, and Ray snorted as they passed her into the office.

"How gracious of him."

"It is, considering how you arrived," the man in a wheelchair said pleasantly, scaring the two young adults. "You are Ray Crisp – and Deitra Burton, of course," he continued, and they nodded, Ororo closing the door and leaving them alone with the Professor. "I understand you escaped here."

"Yes, sir," Deitra nodded, when it was obvious Ray wasn't going to talk. "I didn't know where else to go."

"I can imagine you both experienced difficulty, seeing as your physical appearance shows your true nature," the Professor said gently, and Deitra shrugged uncomfortably while Ray grunted.

"You could say that – I'm Berzerker."

"Interesting."

"So…can we stay?" Deitra asked, deciding to take the bull by the horns. "I want to – and neither of us have anywhere else to go."

"I'm not in the habit of turning away mutants who need my help," the man told them with a smile. "I told Ororo to prepare beds in the dorms for you both."

"Wait, hold on – dorms?" Ray interrupted, sounding disgusted. "What makes you think I'm gonna sleep with a bunch of strangers?"

"Or, you can sleep on the roof," the Professor amended, and Ray stared at him slack-jawed before crossing his arms stubbornly.

"Even with the Church after us – me?" Deitra persisted, and was surprised when he nodded.

"Yes – I knew you both were coming the moment you stepped off the bus," the mutant leader informed them calmly. "Your circumstances are quite clear to me. And this is a dangerous time for all mutants."

"You're telling me," Ray muttered, and winced when Deitra elbowed him. "Hey!"

"What about…well, everything?" she asked, feeling a little overwhelmed, but the man only smiled at them gently.

"We can discuss it in the morning. Right now, you both need some food and sleep, in the order. Ororo is outside waiting, so if you'll follow her, she'll make sure both of you are taken care of," he told them, the conversation plainly over. "Good night, and I will talk to you in the morning."

"Good night…Professor," Deitra said after a pause, unsure what to call him. Ray merely shrugged at the man, who watched them with a smile as they left the office, following Ororo once more into the depths of the mansion.


"This is Piotr Rasputin, Colossus, one of our older students," Ororo began, introducing them to the tall young man they had seen earlier. Both were forced to look up at him, and he nodded down at them solemnly. "And this is Amara Aquilla, Magma," the woman continued, and a young woman taller than Deitra by several inches with blond hair and blue eyes smiled. "They will show you around the Institute tonight and tomorrow, and help you settle in," Ororo informed the two newcomers.

"Nice to meet you," Amara said, grinning at them. Deitra smiled back nervously, and Ray shrugged.

"I will leave you alone now. Do not stay up too late," Ororo said warningly, and left the four together in the kitchen.

"You are probably hungry," Piotr said, in his thick Russian accent.

"Yeah, what a surprise," Ray said sarcastically, moving towards the fridge. "You guys got anything decent to eat?"

"Take what you want," the other young man said calmly, and Ray promptly helped himself to the contents of the refrigerator.

"I'm hungry too, actually," Deitra said, and Amara smiled again.

"You can follow your friend's example," she told the young woman. "There's plenty. We've already eaten."

"Thanks." Deitra nodded, digging around and finding a tuna sub lying by itself. Sitting down at the table, she began to eat it with relish, her stomach thanking her for remembering it.

"So, what're your powers?" Amara asked curiously, she and Piotr joining them at the table.

"Electricity," Ray mumbled through his own food, and casually short-circuited one of several toasters.

"Very funny," Amara said primly, eyeing him before turning to Deitra. "And you?"

"A hotocultist – plant manipulator," she added, too tired for a show.

"If you two are done eating, you look like you're about to collapse," Piotr said critically, eyeing them both. "You must have had a long day."

"You don't know the half of it," Ray grunted, reminded of the dorms. "So, how come we gotta sleep in dorms? For god's sake, I'm twenty years old!"

"It's just for tonight," Amara assured him, as the small group got to their feet, remains of Ray and Deitra's late dinner scattered on the table. "We can find you some rooms tomorrow. Just don't expect anything fancy."

"Just some privacy," the young man complained, falling into step with the easy-going young woman while Deitra remained in the kitchen a moment longer, looking around curiously. Piotr, who had been following the other two out, looked over his shoulder and noticed her, turning back to stand a few feet away.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, but she shook her head.

"I'm sorry to be a bother," she apologized, smiling sheepishly and taking a few steps toward the door. "This is just so…different than where I used to live. So many people around – and mutants."

"It does take some getting used to," he agreed, as they headed into the hallway. "Amara seems to have forgotten I'm not allowed near the dorm," he added, and she looked up at him curiously.

"Why not?"

"They're divided into men and women's," Piotr told her. "So, basic rules apply. Older students get private rooms, so there's nothing to worry about."

"I don't mind either way," she admitted with a shrug. "As long as I have…a bed," she finished, interrupting herself with a yawn and a laugh.

"Amara!" the Russian called, as they caught up to them a few moments later.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" the blond apologized with a laugh. "Piotr, you take Ray, and Deitra – come on, before you collapse," she ordered, taking Deitra's elbow firmly. The young woman suddenly realized how tired she was, the adrenaline of the fight and rush of entering the Institute wearing off, and tried to suppress several more yawns.

"See ya in the morning!" Ray called, as the pairs split off down different hallways on the second floor in a large wing.

"Night," Deitra managed, waving a little as Amara guided her. A few seconds later, they heard footsteps running to catch up, and Ray handed over her suitcase with a grin.

"Forgot about this," he joked, and Deitra took with a smile of her own.

"Thanks, Ray," she said, as he turned to catch up with an amused Piotr.

"So, have you known him long?" Amara asked. The two young women entered what looked to be a college dorm room, with bunks lining the walls. The lights were already off, and although some of the children were asleep, most were holding whispered conversations and giggling fits. At the sight of Amara and a stranger, they fell silent momentarily before returning to their business. Amara, for her part, ignored them, and Deitra was too tired to notice at all.

"No – just met this morning," she told her guide, shrugging her bags onto the floor when Amara stopped near a bunk.

"You can have the bottom – I'll take the top in case you…well, you know," Amara trailed off, slightly embarrassed, but Deitra understood and appreciated her meaning.

"Thanks."

"I'll get you something to change into, and –"

"I'm fine," Deitra interrupted her sleepily, collapsing onto the mattress with a contended sigh. "I just need…some…"

"Wow," Amara whispered, a little impressed someone could fall asleep so fast in their clothing, jacket and all. Watching the girl for a few moments to make sure she was all right, Amara left to change into her own pajamas, climbing into the top bunk quietly after a few moments and warning the other girls not to get too loud.


Yes, this is still Angel/OC. I love Piotr, but no romance with anyone else, so don't worry! Please review.